AWARDING MEDALS U.S. Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta presents a Purple Heart medal to a soldier assigned to the 172nd Infantry Brigade on Forward Operation Base Sharana, Afghanistan, Dec. 14, 2011. Panetta awarded 12 Purple Hearts medals to soldiers on the base. SHARE: Download: Full Size (0.07 MB) Credit: VIRIN: 456270-E-HLH22-419.jpg Photo Gallery